Who are the shortest NBA players in 2023
The NBA is seen as a big man’s game, but over the years many pint-sized players have found ways to make an impact.
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Facundo Campazzo, Chris Paul and Jordan McLaughlin (via NBA.com)
Unfortunately, athletes under six feet tend to be written off before getting a chance and have to prove themselves more than others because the NBA is known for its tall, athletic players. Furthermore, shorter players do significantly worse in defensive measures. Nevertheless, players under 6ft 3 inches compete in the NBA. There are several players in the league today who’ll make the list of the shortest NBA players in 2023.
Although size matters in basketball, some smaller players frequently stand out for their ability. A handful of the shortest NBA players ever play anything other than point guard because of their stature. However, a few can also play shooting guard on occasion. Here are some NBA players who were the shortest in the 2022–2023 season.
1. Facundo Campazzo of Dallas Mavericks: 5’10”
After weeks of rumors surrounding the move, the Dallas Mavericks signed free agent point guard Facundo Campazzo to their final roster position. In doing so, the Mavericks now have the shortest player on an NBA team at 5’10”.
The flamboyant point guard from Argentina, age 31, is renowned for his superb passing skills. However, Campazzo has encountered difficulties with his defense and shooting at the NBA level.
2. Jordan McLaughlin of Minnesota Timberwolves: 5’11”
At 5’11, Jordan McLaughlin, a fourth-year secondary point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is ranked second. McLaughlin, who is 26 years old, has developed into a reliable facilitator and above-average defender for the Timberwolves off the bench.
Over 143 career games, he has averaged 5.0 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals on 44.4% shooting. Last season, when the Timberwolves faced the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, McLaughlin also had a significant bench role for the team.
3. Chris Paul of Phoenix Suns: 6’0″
Only Campazzo and McLaughlin are now classified as NBA players who are under 6 feet tall. However, several players are classified as being precisely six feet tall. Chris Paul, a 12-time NBA All-Star, stands out the most. Paul is regarded as one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history.
Throughout 17 seasons, CP3 has averaged 18.1 points, 9.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 47.3%. Paul, who is currently 37 years old, just completed an All-Star campaign with the Phoenix Suns, during which he led the NBA in assists with 10.8 assists per game.
4. Kyle Lowry of Miami Heat: 6’0″
Kyle Lowry is a six-time NBA All-Star and NBA champion and is another prominent 6-foot-0 guard. In his first year playing with the Miami Heat, Lowry, 36, had a bit of a poor year. Lowry is still regarded as one of the NBA’s toughest and most effective shooting point guards.
Over 16 seasons, Lowry has averaged 14.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Additionally, he has a field goal percentage of 42.5% and a three-point percentage of 36.8%.
5. Tyus Jones of Memphis Grizzlies: 6’0″
He is a reserve point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. Tyus Jones is an outstanding player who is listed at 6-foot-0. Jones is 26 years old and renowned for having the finest ball-handling skills in the NBA.
Last season, he led the league with a 6.4 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Jones had led the NBA in that metric for the fourth straight year. Over the course of seven seasons, Jones has also averaged 6.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 43.5%.
Who is the shortest NBA player in history?
Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history. However, he’s accomplished far more in his 14-year career than that. Bogues spent his career with four teams: the Charlotte Hornets, the Golden State Warriors, the Washington Bullets, and the Toronto Raptors. The Hornets selected him 12th overall in the 1987 draft.
In addition to his professional basketball career, he represented the country in the 1986 FIBA World Championships, where he was a member of the USA Basketball Team that won the gold medal.
Despite being the NBA’s smallest player, Bogues had 39 career blocked shots, including one against Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. He wasn’t a pushover because he led the Hornets in minutes, steals, and assists.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)